SARAJEVO/LONDON, May 20 (FENA) – Bosnia and Herzegovina joined a new International Coalition for the urgent global prevention of violence against women and girls today at the Global Partnerships Conference in London.
The new coalition brings together eight countries — the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, and Jamaica — to work jointly on preventing violence, to ensure that women and girls can live without fear, regardless of who they are or where they are.
Member states will launch concrete actions to prevent domestic violence and sexual violence, which affects one in three women globally, as well as combat online abuse, which is increasing worldwide.
As the world faces growing instability, the International Coalition will also work to strengthen global efforts to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and other forms of violence in humanitarian crises.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has made progress in combating domestic violence, but tragic cases of femicide show that more must be done to prevent violence against women and girls. In addition to supporting survivors, these efforts must ensure the effective prosecution of perpetrators.
Furthermore, online violence against women and girls in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a serious challenge, given the limited capacity for effective prevention and criminal prosecution of such offenses. In this context, efforts are underway to strengthen these capacities, particularly in investigation and prosecution.
Elmedin Konaković, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Global Partnerships Conference in London and thanked British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper for launching the initiative and inviting Bosnia and Herzegovina to be part of the core group of countries within the International Coalition to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
”Bosnia and Herzegovina fully supports and embraces the Coalition’s high-level principles. The fight against violence against women and girls must be based on a balanced approach that connects institutional reforms, social change, and adequate support, rather than focusing on only one segment,” Minister Konaković emphasized.
Next year, the United Kingdom will host a major summit on combating violence against women and girls, where countries will be able to present additional commitments and report on progress achieved.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed that violence against women and girls is an urgent global issue, not just a national one.
”We are determined to work around the world to ensure women’s safety becomes a global priority. In February, I visited the Sudan border, where I heard girls speak of rape, abductions, and horrific sexual violence. I will make sure their voices are heard and fight to end violence against every one of them, as well as against the one in three women worldwide who will experience sexual or physical abuse in their lifetime,” she said.
She also emphasized that in all countries — from the United Kingdom to Brazil, South Africa, and beyond — women deserve to live free from the fear of violence.
Through the Coalition, countries will share expertise in tackling this issue and develop national action plans to improve prevention efforts, protect women and girls, and hold perpetrators accountable, according to a joint statement from BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Embassy in Sarajevo.
